1
as in democratic
of, relating to, or favoring political democracy
having rid itself of the yoke of colonialism, the new nation chose to be a self-ruling state
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in independent
not being under the rule or control of another
was granted special status as a self-ruling province
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of self-ruling
China claims the self-ruling Taiwan as its own and has not ruled out using force to take control of the democratic island.
—
Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
Xi also wants to focus on Washington’s stance on Taiwan, the self-ruling democracy that Beijing claims as its territory.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 13 May 2026
But the real change might be in East Asia, where Kim’s belligerence and rising fears regarding China’s designs on self-ruling Taiwan had already reenergized the nuclear debate.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 28 Mar. 2026
Like Assad before him, Sharaa now faces complex negotiations toward bringing these self-ruling territories under his command.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
In recent years, Beijing has ramped up economic, diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan – a self-ruling democracy the Chinese Communist Party claims as its own despite having never governed it.
—Eric Cheung, CNN, 13 Mar. 2023
In a meeting earlier with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Raisi expressed support for China's crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong and claim to self-ruling democratic Taiwan.
—Bradford Betz, Fox News, 17 Feb. 2023
Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
Xi also wants to focus on Washington’s stance on Taiwan, the self-ruling democracy that Beijing claims as its territory.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 13 May 2026
But the real change might be in East Asia, where Kim’s belligerence and rising fears regarding China’s designs on self-ruling Taiwan had already reenergized the nuclear debate.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 28 Mar. 2026
Like Assad before him, Sharaa now faces complex negotiations toward bringing these self-ruling territories under his command.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
In recent years, Beijing has ramped up economic, diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan – a self-ruling democracy the Chinese Communist Party claims as its own despite having never governed it.
—Eric Cheung, CNN, 13 Mar. 2023
In a meeting earlier with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Raisi expressed support for China's crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong and claim to self-ruling democratic Taiwan.
—Bradford Betz, Fox News, 17 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-ruling
Adjective
-
The 34-year-old democratic socialist's choices were pitted against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, also of New York, in what will likely be viewed as a big and successful early test at establishing a new faction within the national party.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
-
Elsewhere in New York, Mayor Zohran Mamdani is trying to prove his democratic socialist political movement can outlast his own campaign and reshape Congress.—
Luke Fountain,
CNBC,
23 June 2026
Adjective
-
Take control of your money with CNBC Select CNBC Select is editorially independent and may earn a commission from affiliate partners on links.—
Amy Morin,
CNBC,
21 June 2026
-
Seven filed as nonpartisan and no one filed as a Democrat, independent or left the line blank.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
Adjective
-
The robot is designed for 24/7 operation, with autonomous charging and hot-swappable dual batteries minimizing downtime.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
23 June 2026
-
In the federal filing, Waymo says the autonomous vehicle may enter and drive at speed in freeway construction zones because the software may fail to recognize the zone or may prioritize avoiding other freeway hazards.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
Adjective
-
However, the dream of fully sovereign AI inevitably runs up against hard constraints around compute, capital, and energy.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
-
The firm raised the money from regional sovereign wealth funds and global investors, Bloomberg reported.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
23 June 2026
Adjective
-
The criminal case comes as the victims’ families pursue a separate lawsuit filed in December and amended in April, alleging the crash and its aftermath were marked by a series of preventable failures.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
-
As is customary when deputies shoot a suspect, the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau and Internal Affairs Bureau have launched separate investigations.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-ruling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-ruling. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
